Detailed Description

We are pleased to offer this delightful series of beautifully produced, fascinating documentaries on Traditional Irish Crafts and Lifestyles,
where the emphasis is on the skill of human hands rather than on machines.

There are 34 half-hour programs and 3 one-hour programs produced by David & Sally Shaw-Smith:

Textiles

There are nine films under the heading "textiles"; covering some of the finest craftspeople and their work. In this diverse genre, we see how varied and beautiful traditional Irish textiles are. We meet the people, learn the history and most importantly get an intimate introduction to a number of Ireland's finest textile artists and their crafts.

Patchwork

Lace

Embroidery

Wool Spinning

Donegal Weavers

Donegal Carpets

English Silk

The Tailor

Dublin Woolen Mill

Wood

There are nine films under the heading "wood" demonstrating the range and skill of traditional woodcraft as practiced in Ireland. From Breens Carriage Works, who make magnificent horse traps, to the construction of the traditional Shannon One Design lake and river sailingboat, we realise the importance and impact traditional wood workers had in Ireland.

Cavan Cooper

Cavan Cabinetmakers

The Leitrim Chair

Hurl Making

Harp Making

Dublin's Viking Longship

Carriage Building

Spinning Wheel Making

Shannon One Design

Ceramics, Metal and Stone

The films in this section cover three important traditional materials as used by Irish craftspeople. Under "ceramics", we encounter Belleek's worldfamous, beautiful ceramic ware and the workings of Ireland's oldest pottery at Carley's Bridge. "A Dublin Silvesmith" covers one of Ireland's most collected and respected crafts, whilst "Powers of the Metal" features more practical but no less skillful metalwork. "Stone" focuses on possibly Ireland's oldest and most evident craft.

Clay Pipeworks

Carley's Bridge Potteries

Melleek Potteries

Dublin Silversmith

Powers of the Metal

Lighthouse Crafts

Leather

The five films under the heading "leather" show how animal hide has been traditionally used in Ireland. They document the diversity of uses this material has been crafted for; from binding beautiful books to covering the elegant traditional skin boats called "curraghs".

The Saddler

Shoe Making

Curraughs

Dublin's Workhorses

Dublin Bookbinder

Willow, Rush and Straw

Willow, rush & straw are traditionally some of Ireland's most popular organic materials. "Rushwork" and "Basketmaking" both employ weaving as their construction methods; both films demonstrate these wonderful crafts. In "Wexford thatcher" we see the craft behind Ireland's iconic thatched cottage.

Rushwork

Basketmaking

Wexford Thatcher

Miscellaneous

The final five films in the "Hands" series under "miscellaneous" feature subjects which cannot be simply categorized under one material heading. We see a range of crafts, processes and skills as practiced by individuals; who, through necessity and creative drive produce unique items using traditional methods.